A 117.5–155-GHz SiGe ×12 Frequency Multiplier Chain With Push-Push Doublers and a Gilbert Cell-Based Tripler
Justin Romstadt, Ahmad Zaben, Hakan Papurcu, Pascal Stadler, Tobias Welling, Klaus Aufinger, Nils Pohl
Abstract
In this work, we present a fully integrated <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$D$</tex-math> </inline-formula> -band <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times$</tex-math> </inline-formula> 12 SiGe-based frequency multiplier chain. It comprises two frequency doubling and one frequency tripling stage. Each stage uses an architecture that ensures high harmonic rejection at its output and, thus, ultimately, at <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$D$</tex-math> </inline-formula> -band frequencies. The focus of this work is on describing the generation and propagation of harmonic components in the multiplier chain. Measurements show a maximum output power of 3.5 dBm and a 3-dB bandwidth of 37.5 GHz covering the range from 117.5 to 155 GHz. Over the entire <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$D$</tex-math> </inline-formula> -band, the output power varies by 9 dB. The power consumption equals 0.64 W. The harmonic rejection at the center frequency is approximately 24.5 dBc and within the 3-dB bandwidth, always above 19.5 dBc.